Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto showcased an exceptional free skate performance on Saturday to retain her title in what she deems her final NHK Trophy appearance. Sakamoto announced her retirement from competitive skating after the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and was resolute in delivering a captivating performance at her home Grand Prix in Osaka, Japan.
Set to music by Edith Piaf, Sakamoto executed seven triple jumps flawlessly, earning a Grand Prix season-high score of 227.18, surpassing all other competitors. Expressing her joy, Sakamoto stated, “It was a great experience for me to be able to perform in my hometown. This was an international competition close to my local fans, and I feel great that I was able to deliver such a strong performance.”
With a second-place finish at the Grand Prix de France, Sakamoto secured a spot in the Grand Prix Final scheduled for Dec. 4-7 in Nagoya, Japan. Sofia Samodelkina of Kazakhstan, making her Grand Prix debut, claimed second place with 200 points, followed by Loena Hendrickx of Belgium.
Meanwhile, Ottawa’s Katherine Medland Spence, the sole Canadian entry, finished 11th out of 12 skaters in her Grand Prix debut, accruing 146.63 points. Hendrickx, the 2024 European Champion, landed six triple jumps cleanly to amass a total of 198.97 points after returning to the Grand Prix series following a hiatus due to ankle surgery in February.
In the men’s singles, 2022 Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama clinched his third consecutive NHK Trophy victory despite an early mistake, finishing with an overall score of 287.24. His compatriot Shun Sato, the Cup of China winner, achieved a personal best of 189.04 in the free skate, totaling 285.71 points. Lukas Britschgi of Switzerland secured the bronze medal with 246.94 points.
Moreover, British ice dance duo Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson claimed the gold medal with a total score of 205.88, earning a spot in the Grand Prix Final. Italian pairs skaters Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii outperformed the 2022 Olympic champions from China, Sui Wenjing, and Han Cong, to seize the gold medal.
As the skating season progresses, athletes are gearing up for the Grand Prix Final and the Winter Olympics, with exciting competitions and performances ahead.
